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Will the new arena be the catalyst to break through the basketball program ceiling?
Posted on 3/14/24 at 10:55 am
Posted on 3/14/24 at 10:55 am
In his interview with former men's basketball Coach Will Wade, Jacque Doucet queried CWW about his time at LSU and how he feels now about existing LSU. It was a very interesting interview: LINK.
For the most part CWW put a very positive spin on the situation but one point that he made stood out to me. CWW alluded to the fact that he felt like he took the men's basketball program as far as it could possibly go given the level of resources for men's basketball at the time. That is, he got the program up to a top 15-20 program nationally but that was the ceiling and the program could not break through that ceiling without more commitment from the administration. He did not go into detail about what that commitment should be but I think it's safe to assume that he was inferring "facilities".
Getting a new arena can only help CMM take the men's basketball program to new higher levels, right?
CWW also mentioned that basketball recruiting is difficult in Louisiana because the top dual sport high school athletes in Louisiana will choose football over basketball. He used Brian Thomas Jr. as an example. Reading (or listening) between the lines CWW made the point that if more of these dual sport kids would choose basketball over football this would also help raising the program to another level.
For the most part CWW put a very positive spin on the situation but one point that he made stood out to me. CWW alluded to the fact that he felt like he took the men's basketball program as far as it could possibly go given the level of resources for men's basketball at the time. That is, he got the program up to a top 15-20 program nationally but that was the ceiling and the program could not break through that ceiling without more commitment from the administration. He did not go into detail about what that commitment should be but I think it's safe to assume that he was inferring "facilities".
Getting a new arena can only help CMM take the men's basketball program to new higher levels, right?
CWW also mentioned that basketball recruiting is difficult in Louisiana because the top dual sport high school athletes in Louisiana will choose football over basketball. He used Brian Thomas Jr. as an example. Reading (or listening) between the lines CWW made the point that if more of these dual sport kids would choose basketball over football this would also help raising the program to another level.
This post was edited on 3/14/24 at 10:57 am
7
Posted on 3/14/24 at 10:57 am to GumboPot
If McMahon is still the coach by the time the arena is finished that means we have already broken through the ceiling
Posted on 3/14/24 at 10:59 am to lsudave1
quote:
If McMahon is still the coach by the time the arena is finished that means we have already broken through the ceiling
The ceiling is 15-20 nationally. IMO if CMM maintains anything better than 40 he sticks around for awhile. Long enough time for the arena to be built.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 11:01 am to GumboPot
I think new facilities are a big part of it, but it is also more than that. It's fundraising, marketing, recruiting resources, etc. Think about the marketing you see done for football and baseball compared to men's basketball, not just now but even during Wade's years. The reality is, and Wade alluded to this in his interview, basketball is not a year-round commitment from the athletic office and the fanbase. It is simply a stop gap between football and baseball. In today's college basketball, if you want to get your program to a top level, it takes a year-round financial commitment
This post was edited on 3/14/24 at 11:03 am
Posted on 3/14/24 at 11:07 am to Aforem7
LA has never been a hoops hotbed but they still have some players that can be program type players that can elevate the team.
You are also close enough to Texas to find additional talent in that state.
I don't think Brian Thomas would have made a world of difference had he played basketball at LSU, he and Cook led Walker to a state title but Thomas at 6'4 would not have been a top post player in the SEC.
You are also close enough to Texas to find additional talent in that state.
I don't think Brian Thomas would have made a world of difference had he played basketball at LSU, he and Cook led Walker to a state title but Thomas at 6'4 would not have been a top post player in the SEC.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 11:07 am to GumboPot
No
Posted on 3/14/24 at 11:25 am to GumboPot
quote:
Will the new arena be the catalyst to break through the basketball program ceiling?
They just won a national championship while playing home games in the outmoded facilities and practicing in second rate facilities as described by some. The reality is there are teams ranked ahead of LSU playing in older facilities and teams in newer arenas ranked below LSU. It is doubtful any recruits reject offers from LSU because of facilities.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:23 pm to GumboPot
Just bring back Wade fat Scott
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:30 pm to tigersbb
quote:
They just won a national championship while playing home games in the outmoded facilities and practicing in second rate facilities as described by some
What's needed to compete at the top of men's basketball vs women's isn't in the same universe. Also, we probably aren't hiring a HOF coach for men's basketball anytime soon.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:31 pm to GumboPot
quote:
The ceiling is 15-20 nationally.
For WW maybe. There’s no reason to think LSU can’t do what Tennessee, Auburn, & Bama have been doing lately.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:32 pm to GumboPot
quote:
the program could not break through that ceiling without more commitment from the administration.
Different administration
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:42 pm to tigersbb
quote:
They just won a national championship while playing home games in the outmoded facilities and practicing in second rate facilities as described by some. The reality is there are teams ranked ahead of LSU playing in older facilities and teams in newer arenas ranked below LSU. It is doubtful any recruits reject offers from LSU because of facilities.
Exactly. Players don’t care about the arena. They don’t sit in shitty seats or eat crap concessions.
They do care about locker rooms and practice facilities and, while not perfect, LSU’s are nice enough.
LSU baseball and women’s basketball just won titles with “outdated” facilities.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 1:02 pm to Bjorn Cyborg
quote:
LSU baseball and women’s basketball just won titles with “outdated” facilities.
LSU baseball is the big fish in that sport. Kim Mulkey is a hall of famer. We bring neither of these characteristics to men's basketball. We don't have close to the NIL machine running in basketball that other SEC teams do and that's much more important than the arena or practice facility.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 1:12 pm to Aforem7
quote:
I think new facilities are a big part of it, but it is also more than that. It's fundraising, marketing, recruiting resources, etc.
So true. Better facilities though, signals that you are serious about upgrading your program.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 1:35 pm to nicholastiger
That’s not the point is that a dual sport athlete FB/BB as he matures concentrates, trains, and works more on his game of Football. If they’re going to play basketball only they become a gym rat.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 2:09 pm to GumboPot
quote:
he got the program up to a top 15-20 program nationally
We finished the season ranked 1 time in 5 years. That was 2018-19.
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